lee daniels Archives - Rolling Out

Lee Daniels is back with his new visionary film The United States vs. Billie Holiday. The film, starring Andra Day, tells the story of Holiday’s battle with the federal government, which sought to stop her from singing her controversial and heart-wrenching ballad, “Strange Fruit.” The film will be released on Feb. 26, 2021, on Hulu.

“Empire” will end prematurely on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. The popular hip-hop drama was always intended to finish at the end of its current sixth season, but after the global health pandemic forced filming to be shut down, it will now end on episode 18 of the finale series. The FOX show’s writers Lee Daniels…

There is a possibility that Jussie Smollett could return to the hit television show “Empire.” The 37-year-old actor — who played musician Jamal Lyon in the drama — had been accused of having orchestrated a racist and homophobic attack on himself back in January. Although he had the case against him dropped in March, he…

Dame Dash’s child support troubles could be solved by a former colleague. According to TMZ, Lee Daniels will likely be forced to cover Dash’s child support bill. The mothers of Dash’s children, Rachel Roy and Cindy Morales, have taken the former record label executive to court for his failure to pay child support. Dash was…

Tonia Grady is a media mogul extraordinaire. She has been in the entertainment industry for over 25 years. Her work and coverage have helped to launch the careers of film director Lee Daniels and assisted Tom Joyner with his HBCU initiatives. Rolling out spoke with Grady about her career, her challenges and her brand, Gradygirl.…

Fox CEO Charlie Collier has announced his final decision about Jussie Smollett’s return to “Empire” after he was accused of staging a hate attack on himself. The 37-year-old actor — who played musician Jamal Lyon in the drama — was accused of having orchestrated a racist and homophobic attack on himself back in January, and…

Mo’Nique is circling back like a shark to rip at virtually every person whom she has had a feud with over the past 15 years, including Whoopi Goldberg, Charlamagne Tha God, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. One of the Hollywood heavyweights Mo’Nique has also feuded with for a decade is prolific director Lee Daniels, who…

“Empire” actor Taye Diggs says producers of the hit Fox show cut ties with embattled thespian Jussie Smollett much too hastily, even though his legal troubles have not been resolved in a court of law or in the court of public opinion. Diggs, 48, who is best known for his film roles in The…

In a move that appears to signal feelings of betrayal and abandonment, ex-“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett has unfollowed his former boss who made him a household name through the weekly drama series. According to TheJasmineBrand, Smollett stopped following “Empire” creator, producer and director Lee Daniels this past week. There were a couple of recent developments…

After initially and reflexively jumping in to defend “Empire” star Jussie Smollett after he was charged with allegedly staging a fake homophobic and racist attack, show creator and director Lee Daniels said he is “beyond embarrassed” about that. He also indicated that he has his doubts about Smollett’s version of accounts. “I think that when…

The creators of the ratings-busting Fox show “Empire” respond to reports that beleaguered star Jussie Smollett is being written back into the show’s final season. Creator and director Lee Daniels, 59, who also directed the critically acclaimed The Butler and Academy Award-winning Precious, shot back at a report from Variety magazine that said Smollett, 37, was…

Lee Daniels has admitted the cast and crew of “Empire” have been through “pain and anger and sadness and frustration” due to the Jussie Smollett scandal. The 36-year-old actor was dropped from the final two episodes of the fifth season of the musical drama after he was accused of orchestrating a racist and homophobic attack on himself…

If “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett is guilty of perpetrating a fraud of a beatdown, he may not only go to prison and be out of a skyrocketing Hollywood career, but he may drastically impact the pockets of the entire “Empire” cast and crew. That’s because “Empire,” which set the nation on fire when it first…

Jussie Smollett — who is being investigated over reports he orchestrated an alleged homophobic and racist attack on himself — will not be returning to set to shoot the final two episodes of the series. The 36-year-old actor who plays Jamal Lyon on the show has been written out of the finale, as producers are keen to “avoid further disruption.”…

The attack on “Empire” star Jussie Smollett has caused concern and speculation all over the internet. Lee Daniels, the co-creator of “Empire,” posted a statement on Instagram in regard to the case. “It’s taken me a minute to come to social media about this because Jussie, you are my song. You didn’t deserve, nor anybody…

There will soon be a new and openly gay Black male superhero to hit the screens, and that hero’s name is SuperB—-. So says Oscar-winning director Lee Daniels, according to a recent Instagram post. The character has become a viral video sensation that features a man in high heeled thigh boots and a shiny skintight spandex shirt…

There will soon be a new and openly gay Black male superhero to hit the screens, and that hero’s name is SuperB—-. So says Oscar-winning director Lee Daniels, according to a recent Instagram post. The character has become a viral video sensation that features a man in high heeled thigh boots and a shiny skintight spandex shirt…

Singer, songwriter and “Star” lead actress Jude Demorest celebrated the arrival of her first child, posting vibrant photos of newborn son Judah. Demorest, 26, is best known for playing the ambitious and multitalented but deeply troubled Star Davis in the hit show created by Lee Daniels. Her character and two other young women try to navigate…

“Empire” creator and director Lee Daniels wants you to put some respect on his name. Daniels explained to the media why he deserves some kudos for Cardi’s meteoric music rise. Daniels told TMZ he gave Cardi some Instagram shine that ultimately caught “Love & Hip Hop” executive producer Mona Scott Young’s attention. He said, “My…

Comedic actress Mo’Nique is armed to the teeth with snapbacks and she is unleashing them on Precious director Lee Daniels with a vengeance. After throwing countless shade in Daniels’ direction for years for his alleged contribution to her being black-balled in Hollywood after they collaborated to produce the Academy Award-winning movie Precious — for which…